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topicnews · October 24, 2024

Gothic flair at the Peekeasy in Westchester

Gothic flair at the Peekeasy in Westchester

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If you know anything about 1920s New York, you know that many of the bar owners at the time were Irish and Italian immigrants. Building on that, Irishman Anthony Maguire and Italian Enzo DeRaco decided to bring some of that history to Peekskill with the opening of their new speakeasy.

Peekeasy – the name is a nod to the city in which it is located – will open on October 25th as a soft opening with a “Great Gatsby” theme. The official opening with longer opening hours will take place on October 31st.

The new super-dark spot, with a slightly spooky gothic theme (the skull wallpaper is your first clue), is discreetly located behind a wallpapered door at Peekaboos Creams, the duo’s new ice cream shop, set to open the first week of November.

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Tell me about the speakeasy

Maguire and DeRaco, who own Slainte Peekskill and 140 Kitchen (next door), wanted to create something that had both an ode to the past and a modern twist. They also wanted to bring something new and different to Peekskill.

This means a peephole on the door behind which a person asks you for the code in a playful way. (You can get a code from Slainte or 140 Kitchen, or call 140 Kitchen to ask.)

Once inside, you’ll find an inky, slightly gothic-decorated room with a 14-seat bar, two white booths in each corner, and a few tables topped with old-fashioned lanterns. The 49-seat speakeasy also features a faux fireplace in the back, as well as two sofas and a black candelabra with lots of melting candles.

And because general manager Corey Policastro, who is also Peekeasy owner, likes horror films, there is a selection of spooky black and white photos reminiscent of what you’ll find in Disney’s Haunted Mansion.

It all makes for a cozy, hidden environment that makes you wonder if the sun ever shines (it doesn’t shine in here). There is also the skull wallpaper, which is black on black.

“It’s definitely very dark and very gloomy, but we want the atmosphere to be very intimate and very personable,” Policastro said. The goal is to get people to turn off their cell phones and interact with each other.

Hopefully they’ll also enjoy the cocktails, which Policastro, who oversees the bar program at all three restaurants, considers a work of art. Instead of a drink menu that lists each ingredient, the menu here lists flavor profiles. “We’ll be happy to tell you what’s in the drink afterwards,” he said. “But we want you to experience it first.”

There are four traditional cocktails inspired by the 1920s, as well as four specialty drinks, including two The 1806, a twist on the Manhattan, and The Peekskillian, reminiscent of a floral iced tea.

To accompany the drinks, the menu includes eight to ten small dishes such as Mike’s Famous Meatballs, Mediterranean Octopus, various bao rolls and Philly cheesesteak with house-roasted meat and horseradish aioli. Fans of the now-closed 140 Grand in Croton-on-Hudson (from the same owners) will be happy to know that chef Viviana Gilbert is in the kitchen here.

In keeping with the history theme, the menu also features interesting facts and information about Peekskill during the Prohibition era.

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Scream for ice cream

While the speakeasy is dark, atmospheric and very adult, this cheerful place with colorful cartoon wallpaper is an ode to childhood back in the day with vintage candy jars, pinball machines (think Donkey Kong, Rampage, Terminator’s Judgment Day and a machine called… ). Speakeasy), as well as a 100-year-old cash register that displays dollars and cents (although credit cards are still accepted).

Customers can expect seven different gelato flavors (all from Italy) as well as a selection of sweets.

When you go

Address: 907 South St., Peekskill

Hours: 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. from October 31st.

Opening hours for Peekaboo creams Daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Subject to change), but only open in the first week of November.

Peekeasy soft opening: It’s October 25th at 7pm with the theme “Great Gatsby” (come dressed). Grand opening hours on October 31st are 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m

Down the street: The owners hope to eventually offer juicy ice cream.

Jeanne Muchnick deals with food and eating. Click here for her latest articles and follow her latest culinary adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the Lohudfood newsletter.

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